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Smithville Police Stay Busy Over Weekend

March 12, 2007

by:

Dwayne Page

Smithville Police had a busy weekend making numerous arrests for Aggravated Burglary, Theft, DUI, Drugs Criminal and Public Intoxication.

Chief Thomas J. Stufano says on Friday Smithville Police arrested 47 year old Jarvis Trapp of Bell Street Apartments in Smithville for Public Intoxication. \"Officers were summoned to Duncan Street after a concerned citizen called stating that a white male was stumbling into traffic near the Tannery on Highway 70. Upon arrival officers found Jarvis lying a drainage ditch on Duncan Street. At first Smithville Officer's starting working the find as a potential accident scene as Jarvis was unconscious. Further investigation disclosed that he had passed out due to being highly intoxicated. He was arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail with a bond set at $1,500.\"

On Saturday Smithville Officers arrested 36 year old Richard Turner of 637 Restview Avnue for Criminal Trespassing. Chief Stufano says \"Officers were dispatched to 637 Crestlawn Avenue when a resident called to advise that there was an unwanted guest in their house. Upon arrival officers found Turner passed out on the living room sofa. The resident advised that they had told Turner to leave but he ignored their requests and fell asleep on the couch. Officer's escorted Turner from the property with a warning not to return. Approximately two hours later Officers were again summoned back to the residence where they found Turner again sitting on the couch. He was arrested for Criminal Trespass and Public Intoxication. Turner was transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $3,000 bond. Turner had also been arrested for the same offense on March 5th after he violated a restraining order to stay off of Housing Authority property.\"

Also on Saturday, Smithville Police arrested 30 year old Amy Jeanette Lawson of 1243 Haley Road, Smithville for Simple Possession and Drug Paraphernalia. Chief Stufano says \"A concerned citizen called police to report a possible drug sale in progress outside of the City Caf?' located on Highway 70. As officer's arrived they could see parties exchanging something and then quickly dispersing. Two subjects were detained and a third unknown white female walked into the Caf?'. Upon entry into the restaurant, police made contact with the woman as she exited a backroom. The investigation disclosed that Lawson had in her possession K-4 Dilaudid and had just disposed of a syringe, 2 straws and a metal container with an additional 5 pills that she had just hidden in a back room in the restaurant. Lawson was subsequently arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail under a $3,500 bond.\"

On Sunday, Smithville Officers arrested 49 year old Roy D. Mathis and 45 year old Rhonda Cains of 627 Crestlawn Avenue in Smithville for Aggravated Burglary and Theft over $500.00. Chief Stufano says \"Investigators determined that the two had burglarized a garage located at 118 Steeple Chase Drive in Smithville and stole thousands of dollars worth of tools. The victim who saw the pair stealing the items was hurt while trying to stop the theft. The two subjects were eventually arrested. Bond for Mathis is $10,000 and Cains' bond is $3,500.\"

Also on Sunday afternoon Smithville Officers arrested 49 year old Ricky Devault of 330 Talphia Road in Dowelltown for DUI and Driving on a Suspended License. According to Chief Stufano, officers responded to a 2 car motor vehicle accident in the Hardees parking lot and found that Devault had run into the rear of another vehicle. He was suspected of DUI and the standard field sobriety tests confirmed his intoxication. A computer check also noted that his license was suspended (2nd offense). He was arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail with a $1,500 bond.\"

On Monday, Smithville Officers responded to a county mutual aid request. It was reported that an unknown Latin male was walking along Highway 70 and appeared to be intoxicated. Upon arrival Smithville Officers found 30 year old Gilberto Godinez of 6416 Short Mountain Road in Smithville banging on neighborhood doors wanting to use their phone. It was apparent that Godinez was intoxicated and did have cuts and scrapes about his face from falling into ditches as he walked. He was eventually arrested and transported to the DeKalb County Jail for Public Intoxication. Bond was set at $1,000. Godinez advised that he is an illegal alien from Mexico.\"

Also on Monday morning Smithville Police responded to 428 Morgan Avenue on a reported vandalism call. Chief Stufano says \" Further investigation showed that vandals had spray painted suspected \"gang signs\" on the street. 26 year old Ricky Murphy of 7301 McMinnville Highway, Smithville was arrested for vandalism. He was brought to the DeKalb County Jail under a $1,000 bond.\"

Chief Stufano says \"Local law enforcement has started to notice an increase in gang graffiti throughout the region. The recent rash of signage displayed locally is known as \"BK\" or Blood Killer's\" which originates back to west coast gang organizations. Law enforcement has been actively gauging the gang concept in the area with intelligence sharing meetings among the agencies. Also noted is the influx of Latin gangs which are moving operations from the mid-west. Smithville Police has assigned an officer to stay current with gang activity in our area.\"

Again, Chief Stufano says the Smithville Police Department would like to thank our citizens for staying vigilant to their surroundings and calling to report suspicious activity in your neighborhood. \"Crime Watch is effective and does work! The Smithville Police ask for our residents to just make a phone call to the Police and not try to stop the illegal activity themselves. \"